deal or his approach, but both sides want to extend middle class tax rates. that's the key. both parties agree they want to extend to a certain threshold middle class tax rates. it's all about where that ball ends pup. >> so you think republicans will go for $250,000. >> i don't think the republican leadership will agree on $250,000, but you will see as many republicans move towards $250,000, maybe a scattering in the senate, a scattering in the house, because at the end of the day they want to extend as many rates as possible. >> but, richard, the real question here, they don't have to agree to $250,000 but they have to let a vote happen on $250,000. in of that case mitch mcconnell would have to agree not owe filibuster and speaker boehner would have to allow the bill to come to the floor. it's 9 process disagreements. >> i may not be the only person who is getting confused on the optimist/pessimist signals. let's listen to what we heard from a couple senators. first senator schumer on the demeanor tide and senator cocker on the republican side. there are di